Introduction
Researchers describes the objective and purpose of Supply Chain Management (SCM) as value maximization and to optimize the flow of goods from suppliers to consumers. Goods require resources and Stahel (2016) argues that a transition towards Circular Economy (CE) will save the earths resources and increase motivate the main purpose of SCM. Plastic is one of the resources that faces various difficulties, it suffers substantial value losses and effects the environment negatively. Re:Source has introduced a project which faces these challenges that plastic has within a supply chain with the purpose to collect knowledge about SCM and CE. The purpose of the thesis is to create an understanding of the relation between SCM and CE combined with barriers and enablers, increased circularity and value retrievement from plastics.
Theoretical Framework
The theoretical framework supports the structure of the thesis and enables the reader to understand core definitions of SCM and CE. These definitions establish the foundation of the study, the two concepts are defined with recent published literature and some old to grasp fair definitions. To combine and understand the consolidation of the two concepts, real successful cases are presented which will be used as a reference for possible achievements.
Methodology
The thesis is approached as a qualitative abductive research with minor quantitative elements to strengthen the findings. First, background information of the problem was collected to further decide what theoretical framework were most suited. The theoretical framework sets the foundation of the thesis structure. External and internal data is collected through interviews and reports. The trustworthiness of the study is measured in credibility, transferability, dependability and confirmability.
Empirical Findings
Empirical data collection includes two case companies and one plastic recycler. Case company A, Nolato and Case company B Essity provides the insight of plastic materials before it reaches consumers and after it has reached a consumer, pre-consumer materials and post-consumer materials. The empirical findings give an insight of the actual cases from each company the thesis research questions will be found and analysed from these findings. The plastic recycler provides data for the enablers and barriers that the supply chains can face when transitioning to CE.
Analysis and Results
From the theoretical framework and empirical findings an analysis is done to answer the research questions. The analysis shows that there are several opportunities with transitioning from a linear supply chain to a circular economy and that these opportunities differs between procurement, production and distribution. The study has resulted in
iii
numerous barriers and enablers within procurement, production and distribution with transitioning towards a circular economy and answered the questions:
• How can the transition be proceeded?
• Why is the transition towards CE important?
• Who will be involved in the transition?
• What products or materials should be included or prioritised in the transition?
Conclusion
The study concludes that there are different barriers and enablers when transitioning towards circular economy between different companies as well as different departments within a company. It is necessary to identify the barriers and enablers for each specific case to handle the barriers and exploit the enablers for a successful transition. The study also concludes the importance to incorporate circular economy in the business model for a joint effort within the company and that it is important to establish incentives to motivate the transition.

BibTeX @mastersthesis{Hasanaj2018,author={Hasanaj, Mergim and Jansson, Alexander},title={Supply Chain Management – A way to achieve Circular Economy},abstract={Introduction
Researchers describes the objective and purpose of Supply Chain Management (SCM) as value maximization and to optimize the flow of goods from suppliers to consumers. Goods require resources and Stahel (2016) argues that a transition towards Circular Economy (CE) will save the earths resources and increase motivate the main purpose of SCM. Plastic is one of the resources that faces various difficulties, it suffers substantial value losses and effects the environment negatively. Re:Source has introduced a project which faces these challenges that plastic has within a supply chain with the purpose to collect knowledge about SCM and CE. The purpose of the thesis is to create an understanding of the relation between SCM and CE combined with barriers and enablers, increased circularity and value retrievement from plastics.
Theoretical Framework
The theoretical framework supports the structure of the thesis and enables the reader to understand core definitions of SCM and CE. These definitions establish the foundation of the study, the two concepts are defined with recent published literature and some old to grasp fair definitions. To combine and understand the consolidation of the two concepts, real successful cases are presented which will be used as a reference for possible achievements.
Methodology
The thesis is approached as a qualitative abductive research with minor quantitative elements to strengthen the findings. First, background information of the problem was collected to further decide what theoretical framework were most suited. The theoretical framework sets the foundation of the thesis structure. External and internal data is collected through interviews and reports. The trustworthiness of the study is measured in credibility, transferability, dependability and confirmability.
Empirical Findings
Empirical data collection includes two case companies and one plastic recycler. Case company A, Nolato and Case company B Essity provides the insight of plastic materials before it reaches consumers and after it has reached a consumer, pre-consumer materials and post-consumer materials. The empirical findings give an insight of the actual cases from each company the thesis research questions will be found and analysed from these findings. The plastic recycler provides data for the enablers and barriers that the supply chains can face when transitioning to CE.
Analysis and Results
From the theoretical framework and empirical findings an analysis is done to answer the research questions. The analysis shows that there are several opportunities with transitioning from a linear supply chain to a circular economy and that these opportunities differs between procurement, production and distribution. The study has resulted in
iii
numerous barriers and enablers within procurement, production and distribution with transitioning towards a circular economy and answered the questions:
• How can the transition be proceeded?
• Why is the transition towards CE important?
• Who will be involved in the transition?
• What products or materials should be included or prioritised in the transition?
Conclusion
The study concludes that there are different barriers and enablers when transitioning towards circular economy between different companies as well as different departments within a company. It is necessary to identify the barriers and enablers for each specific case to handle the barriers and exploit the enablers for a successful transition. The study also concludes the importance to incorporate circular economy in the business model for a joint effort within the company and that it is important to establish incentives to motivate the transition.},publisher={Institutionen för teknikens ekonomi och organisation, Supply and Operations Management , Chalmers tekniska högskola},place={Göteborg},year={2018},series={Master thesis. E - Department of Technology Management and Economics, Chalmers University of Technology, Göteborg, Sweden, no: E2018:064},keywords={Circular Economy, Supply Chain Management, Plastic Material, Circular Economy Business Model, Reuse, Remanufacture, Recycle.},note={75},}

RefWorks RT GenericSR ElectronicID 255953A1 Hasanaj, MergimA1 Jansson, AlexanderT1 Supply Chain Management – A way to achieve Circular EconomyYR 2018AB Introduction
Researchers describes the objective and purpose of Supply Chain Management (SCM) as value maximization and to optimize the flow of goods from suppliers to consumers. Goods require resources and Stahel (2016) argues that a transition towards Circular Economy (CE) will save the earths resources and increase motivate the main purpose of SCM. Plastic is one of the resources that faces various difficulties, it suffers substantial value losses and effects the environment negatively. Re:Source has introduced a project which faces these challenges that plastic has within a supply chain with the purpose to collect knowledge about SCM and CE. The purpose of the thesis is to create an understanding of the relation between SCM and CE combined with barriers and enablers, increased circularity and value retrievement from plastics.
Theoretical Framework
The theoretical framework supports the structure of the thesis and enables the reader to understand core definitions of SCM and CE. These definitions establish the foundation of the study, the two concepts are defined with recent published literature and some old to grasp fair definitions. To combine and understand the consolidation of the two concepts, real successful cases are presented which will be used as a reference for possible achievements.
Methodology
The thesis is approached as a qualitative abductive research with minor quantitative elements to strengthen the findings. First, background information of the problem was collected to further decide what theoretical framework were most suited. The theoretical framework sets the foundation of the thesis structure. External and internal data is collected through interviews and reports. The trustworthiness of the study is measured in credibility, transferability, dependability and confirmability.
Empirical Findings
Empirical data collection includes two case companies and one plastic recycler. Case company A, Nolato and Case company B Essity provides the insight of plastic materials before it reaches consumers and after it has reached a consumer, pre-consumer materials and post-consumer materials. The empirical findings give an insight of the actual cases from each company the thesis research questions will be found and analysed from these findings. The plastic recycler provides data for the enablers and barriers that the supply chains can face when transitioning to CE.
Analysis and Results
From the theoretical framework and empirical findings an analysis is done to answer the research questions. The analysis shows that there are several opportunities with transitioning from a linear supply chain to a circular economy and that these opportunities differs between procurement, production and distribution. The study has resulted in
iii
numerous barriers and enablers within procurement, production and distribution with transitioning towards a circular economy and answered the questions:
• How can the transition be proceeded?
• Why is the transition towards CE important?
• Who will be involved in the transition?
• What products or materials should be included or prioritised in the transition?
Conclusion
The study concludes that there are different barriers and enablers when transitioning towards circular economy between different companies as well as different departments within a company. It is necessary to identify the barriers and enablers for each specific case to handle the barriers and exploit the enablers for a successful transition. The study also concludes the importance to incorporate circular economy in the business model for a joint effort within the company and that it is important to establish incentives to motivate the transition.PB Institutionen för teknikens ekonomi och organisation, Supply and Operations Management , Chalmers tekniska högskola,PB Institutionen för teknikens ekonomi och organisation, Supply and Operations Management , Chalmers tekniska högskola,T3 Master thesis. E - Department of Technology Management and Economics, Chalmers University of Technology, Göteborg, Sweden, no: E2018:064LA engLK http://publications.lib.chalmers.se/records/fulltext/255953/255953.pdfOL 30